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Following a mass confrontation that occurred during last weekend’s match between the Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United FC, the MLS Disciplinary Committee issued additional fines and punishments to both teams.

Both clubs and head coaches were fined undisclosed amounts for their respective violations of the league’s mass confrontation policy, the league announced Friday. The incident marked Minnesota United’s second violation of the season and Colorado’s third.

During the match, both Tommy Smith (foul and abusive language) and Harrison Heath (entering the field of play during a mass confrontation incident) were issued red cards. Minnesota goalkeeping coach John Pascarella also was ejected.

The Independent Panel — consisting of one representative each from the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association, as well as a representative nominated by the Professional Referee Organization — denied the Rapids’ appeal of Smith’s red card, which was issued in the 14th minute of stoppage time. Prior to the altercation between the two teams, Smith went over to the Minnesota bench area to celebrate in front of the opponents and fans.

Smith will serve his red-card suspension this weekend as Colorado travels to face the San Jose Earthquakes. Each MLS club is allowed two unsuccessful red card appeals per season, therefore, the Rapids have one appeal remaining for the final two games of the season.

Harrison Heath was handed an additional game suspension for his role in the confrontation and will miss the Loons’ next two matches against LA Galaxy and Columbus.

Pascarella has been issued an additional three-game suspension (four games total) and fined an undisclosed amount for aggressive behavior toward an opponent and for entering the field of play during a confrontational incident. He will serve his first two suspensions Oct. 21 against the LA Galaxy and Oct. 28 against Columbus, and his remaining two suspensions in Minnesota’s first two matches of the 2019 MLS regular season.

In addition to the actions above, the MLS disciplinary committee issued additional fines and punishments to the following players:

Colorado

-Midfielder Marlon Hairston and defender Edgar Castillo, have each been fined an undisclosed amount for inciting or escalating the mass confrontation incident.

– Forward Yannick Boli has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount for entering the field of play during a confrontational incident. Boli will also miss this weekend’s match against the ‘Quakes.

-Midfielder Jack Price has each been fined an undisclosed amount after being found in violation of the league’s policy regarding hands to the face, head or neck of an opponent during the mass confrontation incident.

Minnesota

-Midfielder Miguel Ibarra has been fined an undisclosed amount for inciting or escalating the mass confrontation incident.

-Midfielder Maximiano has been fined an undisclosed amount for violating the bench behavior policy.

– Defender Brent Kallman, midfielder Darwin Quintero and forward Angelo Rodriguez, have each been fined an undisclosed amount after being found in violation of the league’s policy regarding hands to the face, head or neck of an opponent during the mass confrontation incident.

The post Minnesota United, Colorado Rapids issued MLS issued additional fines, suspensions following altercation appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

It was an abbreviated Week 33 of the Major League Soccer season and even though there were just four league contests, it doesn’t mean we lack movement in the Pro Soccer USA Power Rankings.

D.C. United’s last-minute win over FC Dallas not only catapulted Ben Olsen’s side above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, but it also dropped the Western Conference leaders out of the top three.

The Major League Soccer Power Rankings are created by averaging the rankings submitted by a committee of Pro Soccer USA’s editor and writers.

Pro Soccer USA’s writer Dylan Butler contributed to this report

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 33: Sporting KC moves into top three, FC Dallas falls to No. 7 appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Despite their recent 2-0 win over Minnesota United FC, it’s no secret the Colorado Rapids need help with their attack.

The Rapids are averaging just 1.06 goals per game through 32 games played so far in 2018. Given that former top goal scorers Dominique Badji and Joe Mason exited the club during the summer transfer window, that average drops to just 0.75 goals per game accounting for players currently on the club’s roster.

Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson has made it clear that it’s an area that the team is working on addressing as it heads towards the offseason and another transfer window.

“We’ve identified probably within the league, a dozen players, top targets in terms of strikers,” Hudson told reporters at last week’s . “We’ve identified players overseas, our targets. It’s so frustrating for us and it’s tough for the fans, but it’s something that we are absolutely actively addressing. We just can’t do anything right now.”

Among the Rapids’ targets is Victor Anichebe. The 30-year-old has been training with the club, including participating in team training since late September, but only recently has Pro Soccer USA been able to identify the striker’s identity.

Anichebe most recently played for Beijing Enterprises in the Chinese second division, scoring two goals in 11 appearances. According to recent reports, he made the decision to leave the club due to allegations of match fixing.

Prior to that, Anichebe spent over a decade in England playing for Everton, West Bromwich, and Sunderland. Additionally, Anichebe has international experience with the Nigerian national team with 11 caps and one goal scored.

Everton is where Anichebe experienced his most successful run of form, where he scored 18 goals in 118 appearances for the Merseyside club. Anichebe also played alongside current Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard for six of his seven seasons at Everton.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, Anichebe offers a physical presence in the box and is known for his ability to win aerial duels.

Club officials and Hudson would neither confirm or deny whether Anichebe was a trialist or guest player when directly asked about his status, but the Nigerian has been seen with the club as recently as last week.

“We know [striker] is an area of the pitch we are addressing and everyone at the club at the moment is 24/7 looking, scouting all over the world – Europe, South America, within the league,” Hudson said. “We’ve got scouts at games every week in the league looking at the targets we have.”

The post Former Everton striker Victor Anichebe among Colorado Rapids offensive signing targets appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

The Colorado Rapids snapped a seven-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon as goals from Yannick Boli (61’) and Niki Jackson (90+7’) led the visitors to a 2-0 win over Minnesota United at TCF Bank Stadium.

Here are three takeaways from the Rapids’ 2-0 win.

Cole to the fire

Colorado Rapids homegrown Cole Bassett continued his meteoric rise on Saturday, achieving his goal of making the starting XI in an MLS match for the first time. The 17-year-old didn’t look out of place, either, as he stayed on for the full 90 minutes.

In those 90 minute, Bassett nearly added a debut goal during an early sequence where the Rapids put a flurry of shots on frame, but Matt Lampson and the Loons’ defense somehow kept the ball away from danger.

“The fact that he played the whole game will tell you what we think about him,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson. “It’s no surprise to us. It’s no surprise that he had the performance that he did. I think our biggest job, is making sure his feet stay on the ground. We all believe in him. He’s an unbelievable character, forget about his ability. We believe in him and he’s part of the future of this team. This is not a token gesture—him getting a start. He showed qualities throughout the game that we felt could help us.”

Rub of the Green

For all of the unluckiness and frustrations the Colorado Rapids have experienced this season, Saturday’s game favored them. Shortly before Colorado’s goal, the Rapids could have gone down 1-0 on a goal from Darwin Quintero which was called back for offside, despite the appearance that Marlon Hairston kept him onside.

In the 86th minute, Minnesota midfielder Ibson appeared to have leveled the match at 1-1, but that goal was also called offside.

The VAR working in favor of Colorado wasn’t the only thing that went right. Other highlights included Yannick Boli’s first goal from the run of play and the win helped propel the Rapids out of the race for the Wooden Spoon Trophy – a tongue in cheek award which goes to the worst team in MLS. With two games remaining, the Rapids are now seven points clear of last place San Jose heading into their clash next weekend.

Clueless and classless

Saturday’s game was a breaking point for two teams that were eliminated from playoff contention well before season’s end, and it boiled over after Jackson’s late goal as Rapids defender Tommy Smith went over to celebrate next to Minnesota’s bench. The unsportsmanlike celebration incited a brawl from the Loons’ bench players and coaches.

After the dust had settled and head referee Guido Gonzalez Jr. had again gone to the VAR, a red card was issued to Smith for “Foul and Abusive Language” and Minnesota’s Harrison Heath for “No impact on timing”. As Marcelo Balboa said on Colorado’s broadcast, this mass confrontation event will warrant a second look from the MLS disciplinary committee.

Comments were unavailable from Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson on the incident, but Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath said postgame, “I don’t know what triggered it off. Somebody said one of their guys came over and celebrated to our bench. You know, so I’ll have to see. I’m probably in the dark as much as you of what went on and the reason they got sent off. But hey, it is what it is. We’ve got to — as much as it’s disappointing at the time when people do that — you got to be professional and bite your tongue and get on with it.”

There’s been a debate on whether or not Smith’s actions warranted a red card, but there’s been precedent in these types of situations before, most notably Clint Dempsey’s sending off and three-game suspension for ripping up a referee’s notebook in the 2016 edition of the U.S. Open Cup.

As one of my colleagues and former MLB pitcher has written, there’s a time and place for celebrations. Scoring the game winner in a playoff game or cup final? Appropriate. Gloating in front of the opposing bench and fans when you’re one of the worst teams in the league? Not so much.

Tommy Smith is a veteran and supposed locker room leader for the Rapids and should act like it.

The post Disputes and Debuts: Takeaways from the Colorado Rapids’ 2-0 win over MNUFC appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

MINNEAPOLIS — Two goals from the Colorado Rapids, two Minnesota United FC goals correctly overturned by video review, plus an added-time fracas further defined the dreariness of an overcast afternoon for an announced crowd of 19,733 in Minnesota.

“It was arguably one of our worst performances of the season,” MNUFC head coach Adrian Heath said after the Loons (11-18-3, 36 points) lost 2-0 to the Rapids (7-19-6, 27 points). “I thought the first goal was going to be crucial. It turned out that they got it, and we weren’t good enough on the day to do anything about it.”

The game started slowly, and it looked like goals might be in short supply in the early-going. A seventh-minute sequence defining the first half:

The Rapids worked the ball to Yannick Boli inside the Loons’ 18-yard box, where the Frenchman shot point-blank into keeper Matt Lampson. Rapids midfielder Jack Price half-volleyed the rebound in the direction of teammate Cole Bassett, but it was headed out to the penalty spot by Loons defender Brent Kallman.

That short clearance led to a second effort from Boli, which was cleared off the goal line by Minnesota’s Eric Miller, who was traded by Colorado in May. The subsequent rebound fell to Price before his shot was cleared off the line by defender Marc Burch.

Finally, Bassett brought the futility to a crescendo by shooting wide and bringing about a goal kick.

The Beautiful Game! #MINvCOL pic.twitter.com/zqi9HOmmgN

— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) October 13, 2018

It took 55 minutes for the ball to find the back of the net, and it appeared the Loons had broken the deadlock.

Kallman looped the ball forward to Ángelo Rodríguez, who played the ball out wide for Ibarra, who played the ball over the Rapids’ back line to Quintero, who beat Tim Howard one-on-one. However, after a lengthy VAR delay, it was confirmed that Rodríguez came back from an offside position to receive Kallman’s pass, so the goal was overturned.

Five minutes later, Marlon Hairston placed a whipped cross on the head of a streaking Boli, and the powered effort left Lampson frozen where he stood.

The Rapids’ goal had a sharp impact on the mood around TCF Bank Stadium. A sarcastic chant of “Three Year Plan” began in section 139 shortly afterward — a tongue-in-cheek celebration of MNUFC’s progress over its first two seasons in MLS.

Then, in added time, it appeared the Loons leveled. Quintero made use of a clever touch in the penalty area to settle a bouncing ball for second-half substitute Ibson before the Brazilian side-footed the ball into the Rapids’ goal. But after a second lengthy VAR delay, Rodríguez again was deemed offside during the build-up, leading to a second overturned goal.

Moments after play resumed, a headed backpass from Michael Boxall was intercepted by Niki Jackson before it could reach Lampson. The former lifed the ball over the latter to double Colorado’s lead.

Celebrating his team’s clinching goal, defender Tommy Smith crossed the touchline near Minnesota’s bench to taunt the home crowd. A dust-up resulted that saw both unused substitute Harrison Heath and MNUFC goalkeeper coach John Pascarella ejected for shoving Colorado players.

The confrontation involved multiple Loons and Rapids, with Jackson and Price returning to confront the Minnesota bench after officials initially separated the two teams.

For his part instigating the conflict, Smith was also issued a red card.

“There wasn’t much of a flow of the game. That was probably one of the reasons that we had the incident at the end of the game that we did,” Heath said. “Knowing the rules of the game is different than knowing the game. I just felt the referee today didn’t help the situation with the continually blowing up and people going down, blowing when it’s not a head injury. That frustrated everybody, and I think that led to a lot of the unnecessary ending to the game.”

Lampson had similar thoughts on VAR’s effect on the flow of the game, but wouldn’t directly comment on specific decisions out of concern for being fined by the league.

“I mean, it is heartbreaking, especially goals like that — high, emotional goals that tie the game twice. That is brutal. Credit to us that we fought back each time, but it just was not enough,” Lampson said. “We were not good enough today, and we did not deserve to win. This is one of our worst home performances of the year.”

Heath commented after the game that he was unsure if being eliminated from postseason contention diminished his team’s motivation. Conversely, opposing manager Anthony Hudson was pleased with what he called a “very, very, very strong performance” from his playoff-eliminated side.

“The result is massive because of the obvious,” noted Hudson. “I said it on Tuesday to the media after training, that I have been blown away by how the players in our position are still working and are so focused, and concentrated, and open to how we want to keep improving.

“No one has thrown the towel in, no one is thinking about the end of the season. That, for me, is really important. I think also we got a little bit of luck. I don’t think we had that luck in the past, and it went our way tonight for the first time for us this season. I’m just proud of the fact that we’re in our position and the players are fully committed and are working incredibly hard for each other. Today was a real team performance. In this late stage of the season, this is important.”

The post Testy afternoon in Minnesota leads to rare road win for Colorado appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Here is how to watch all Major League Soccer matches live in Week 33 on TV or streaming. You can follow along with our live scores and stats throughout the weekend as well.

Friday, Oct. 12

Saturday, Oct. 13

The post How to watch MLS on TV, streaming Week 33 appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Embarking on a road trip to face Minnesota United FC on Saturday, the Colorado Rapids are hungry for goals and points as the side looks to end its current seven-game losing streak and avoid the worst record in a 34-game season in club history.

“I’m sure people are fed up with hearing me say this, but there’s absolutely no excuses coming from our side. We’re very disappointed,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson said of his team’s recent form. “But one thing I can’t fault is the lads absolutely never give up. They’ve given everything.”

At the root of Colorado’s recent struggles has been a lethargic offense. The Rapids have been outscored 22-1 over the past seven games, managing only 16 shots on frame total during that span, or an average of 2.29 on-target efforts per game.

As Colorado preps for the upcoming offseason and winter transfer window, a true striker is at the top of Hudson’s wish list.

“We know it’s an area of the pitch we are addressing, and everyone at the club at the moment is 24/7 looking, scouting all over the world – Europe, South America, within the league,” Hudson said during this week’s media availability. “We’ve got scouts at games every week in the league looking at the targets we have.”

Injuries have compounded the Rapids’ offensive woes. With attacking options Sam Nicholson (back) and Jack McBean (foot) both out of the lineup, Hudson has experimented, relying on attacking midfielders Giles Barnes and Shkëlzen Gashi to spark the attack.

“I think it’s difficult, because both of us are not natural strikers,” Barnes explained. “I think if you asked us both where we’d prefer to play, it would be as a 10 or 11. As the gaffer said, not having a No. 9 – a real, true No. 9 – it doesn’t help. But we work hard every day to try to get that chemistry going. I think you’ve seen little flashes. As an attack, we need to do better.”

This weekend’s opponent offers a prime opportunity for Colorado to end its offensive drought. Having conceded 63 goals thus far in 2018, the Loons defense looks to be an easy target, despite the Rapids’ struggles.

“They’re capable of scoring a goal, but we feel they’re liable for a mistake,” said Barnes. “The way that we play and the way that we press, it’s something we’re working on.”

Colorado has long been out of the playoff hunt. But with jobs on the line and the chance to avoid being in the history books for all the wrong reasons, the Rapids still have something to play for.

Said Barnes: “I think everyone knows what’s at stake. These last few games, you’ve got to put in the work, you’ve got to show you want to be part of the club. That’s not just for the young lads, that’s for everyone.”

The post Lethargic Colorado Rapids attack hopes to exploit leaky Loons defense appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Restless fan bases unhappy with their English head coaches. Front offices that promised playoffs, but fell short of that goal. Questionable roster decisions and under-performing defenses. While the Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United FC aren’t quite mirror images of each other, similarities abound between the two teams, set to face off this Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Earlier this week, Pro Soccer USA’s Minnesota United correspondent Kyle Eliason spoke with Colorado correspondent Marco Cummings on Mile High Sports Radio in Denver (AM 1340|FM 104.7) to give his perspective on the match.

Colorado won the last meeting between these teams back in June, how do you see this one playing out?

Eliason: It’s hard to say how the Loons are going to respond to officially missing out on the playoffs after the loss to Philly. Adrian Heath’s postgame comments were fairly pointed and questioned whether certain players would be back with the team in 2019. I guess it depends whether that is something that will motivate players or if it will cause the team to pack in for the final three games of the season.

What is the pulse on the MNUFC fan base? It seems like they are unhappy with Heath at the moment.

Eliason: I think there are a lot of factors in play. The season-ending injuries to Kevin Molino and Ethan Finlay didn’t help things. There’s a lot of optimism around the club with Allianz Field set to open next season. But there’s no getting around it: a goal was set this season to challenge for a playoff place this season and a lot of fans wanted to see improvement from the 2017 debut season in MLS. Right now the Loons are sitting on 36 points, which is what they finished last season with. They’ll probably make some marginal improvement on that, but it’s not the step forward that fans have wanted.

What will we see from Minnesota United in the remaining games? Will we see some depth players get more minutes?

Eliason: While this most recent defeat mathematically eliminated the Loons from the playoffs, realistically they were out of it long before that. Heath stressed his intention to pick up as many points as possible. I believe he’s going to play as strong of a lineup as he can.

Do you see the front office moving in a different direction from Adrian Heath?

Eliason: I do not believe they’ll make any [coaching] changes. MNUFC CEO Chris Wright was quoted in the Star Tribune giving Adrian Heath and sporting director Manny Lagos passing grades, but also added that they weren’t looking for excuses in 2019. But if the team has a poor showing when the new stadium opens, that might not go over so well.

What is missing there? What will it take to succeed?

Eliason: I think Adrian Heath is very good at putting together a potent attack. Along with Darwin Quintero, Miguel Ibarra has quietly had a strong season (seven goals, seven assists). But Minnesota’s defense has been poor for a second-straight season. The question is whether Heath can put together a defense solid enough to win games. Part of that has to do with the midfield. Sam Cronin suffered a concussion towards the end of last season, and he hasn’t played a minute in 2018. They recently picked up Fernando Bob and at times, he’s shielded the backline. But it remains to be seen if he’ll be back. It’s about protecting the back three or back four. But Minnesota’s problem is they don’t pose much of a challenge in terms of keeping opposing teams out of the back of the net.

Any changes in your grade of the Sam Nicholson-Eric Miller trade earlier this year?

Eliason: That’s a move that’s come back to bite Minnesota a bit, because of the injuries in the attacking midfield. At the time, they thought they were dealing from a position of strength. Other than Miguel Ibarra on the right side, they haven’t really found a suitable replacement. Miller has been a solid add and a reliable defensive right back. Lord knows Minnesota needs the extra help on defense. But they haven’t found an answer at left wing, either. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the Loons.

What are your predictions for Saturday’s match?

Eliason: I certainly wouldn’t count on a Loons clean sheet, but their home form has been much better than away. I predict a 2-1 Loons win.

The post Radio: Pro Soccer USA’s Kyle Eliason previews Minnesota United vs. Colorado Rapids appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

The Major League Soccer regular season is in its final month and Week 32 saw more teams book their playoff berths, others eliminated from postseason contention and Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls still neck and neck down the stretch for the Supporters’ Shield.

The Montreal Impact jumped three spots after an impressive 3-0 win over Columbus Crew SC, while Real Salt Lake dropped three spots following a 4-1 loss at home to the Portland Timbers.

The Major League Soccer Power Rankings are created by averaging the rankings submitted by a committee of Pro Soccer USA’s editor and writers.

Pro Soccer USA’s writer Dylan Butler contributed to this report

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 32: Montreal Impact climb, Real Salt Lake slip appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

The Colorado Rapids suffered their seventh-straight loss on Saturday night, falling 3-0 at home to visiting LAFC. The visitors opened the scoring early with a header from defender Walker Zimmerman in the 15th minute and midfielder Adama Diomande doubled the lead to 2-0 with another strike before halftime. Diomande earned the brace shortly after the second half opening whistle to make it 3-0 and LAFC went on to earn all three points and a playoff berth following the 3-0 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Here are three takeaways from Colorado’s 3-0 loss to LAFC:

What more can I say?

As stated above, Colorado has now gone winless in seven games. With the exception of a 2-1 loss to Columbus which included the Rapids’ lone goal of this current stretch – a stretch where Colorado has been outscored 22-1 – Colorado has been largely outplayed and outclassed.

With just 24 points in the table to this point, Colorado is in clear danger of posting the franchise’s worst points total in a 34-game season. One can also argue that this current iteration of the Rapids is the worst in franchise history as the 1996 season (29 points) featured shootouts and the 2001 season (23 points) was shortened due to the events of 9/11.

To date, Colorado’s worst points total in a 34-game season is 32, earned in 2014 under Pablo Mastroeni. At that time, Mastroeni was in his first year having never coached before, which is a far cry from the “experience” that current head coach Anthony Hudson had entering the job at the beginning of this season, experience that the Rapids front office sold the fan base in his introductory press conference.

“If I’m a fan, I totally understand the frustration,” Hudson said post-game. “As tough as its been and it has been tough, that’s the hardest part. Letting the fans down that’s the hardest part, but I do know we’re very clear about what we need to do to improve the team.

Hudson gets the Ax

No, not that one, Rapids fans. The Ax that Anthony Hudson looked at on Saturday night was centerback Axel Sjoberg, making his first appearance since the match against LA Galaxy in early August. It’s been a tough season for Colorado’s 6-foot-7 Swedish defender, who has once again been plagued with injury including his most recent knee issue.

Unfortunately, adversity continued for the 27-year-old and the rest of the Colorado defense in a 3-0 loss.

“It was tough, we tried to pose our game plan on them, but it didn’t really work,” Sjoberg said of Saturday’s result. “We weren’t good enough with the ball and then couldn’t really figure out how to press them properly. They have a lot of good players and they broke our press repeatedly, it was a long night of chasing.”

Sjoberg was one of the few to offer explanation regarding the Rapids’ current issues and his frustration showed in his postgame meeting with media.

“It’s very hard if you’re not coherent and you work as a unit, I think we were all playing a little bit too much as individuals out there tonight, which I think showed,” he explained. “When you have enough good players on the other team like [LAFC] do, they just exploited us.”

The long and winding road

To avoid the worst point total in franchise history, the current Rapids must win out. Their remaining schedule features an upcoming two-game road trip with matches against Minnesota United and San Jose, teams which Colorado has included among its six victories in 2018. The season finale at home is against FC Dallas, a team that could either have the top seed locked or still be engaged in a battle for positioning with SKC and LAFC.

The games against Minnesota and San Jose are arguably the most winnable, but none of the Rapids’ remaining matches will be a walk in the park. Despite their low rankings in the table, Colorado’s upcoming road matches will be against teams which are likewise looking to right the wrongs of 2018 and road points are always the hardest in MLS.

After the match, Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta stressed the importance of the team’s upcoming three-game stretch run.

“It’s huge, each week we’re going in there with the mentality that it’s a final and that we need to win,” Acosta said. “Tonight was definitely disappointing but we still have a few more games left and we have to regroup, rebuild, and keep pushing forward. Minnesota [United FC] is going to be a tough game and then we have San Jose [Earthquakes] on the road and finish off with [FC] Dallas. Every game is going to be tough, Minnesota and San Jose are kind of in the same boat as us so they’re trying to plug away with some results and we’re trying to get back on the right foot and finish the year strong. It’s going to be a battle nonetheless and we have to be prepared for it, playing away is definitely not easy, under the conditions it’s probably going to be pretty cold over there, playing on turf is a little bit different, so we need to be mindful of the little details and find a way to get a result.”

The post Different opponent, same story in Colorado Rapids’ 3-0 loss to LAFC appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – With a 3-0 win over Colorado on Saturday night, Los Angeles FC punched its ticket to the playoffs. LAFC is just the fifth MLS franchise ever to earn a playoff berth in an inaugural season. It also became the second Bob Bradley-led expansion team to earn a playoff berth, since the Chicago Fire went to the postseason in 1997.

For Colorado, it marked the seventh consecutive loss in as many games – a span in which the Rapids have been outscored 22-1.

“I’ve said the same thing too many times,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson told reporters postgame. “I apologize to the fans. We’re just gutted at the performances and the results.”

The visitors played on the front foot from the opening whistle, controlling possession and outshooting the Rapids. Diego Rossi nearly put LAFC in front in the 9th minute after a deft through ball from Adama Diomande, but his effort in open space in front of Tim Howard went wide of the mark.

Instead, LAFC defender Walker Zimmerman broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, heading down a corner off a deflection to give Los Angeles an early 1-0 lead.

Colorado averted disaster in the 39th minute when referee Armando Villarreal looked at VAR to determine whether unsporting play from Rapids defender Edgar Castillo warranted a red card. In the end, Castillo was issued a yellow for the foul in question.

But Colorado experienced continued adversity nonetheless, with LAFC doubling the lead before halftime. Receiving the ball from Lee Nguyen, Diomande took a shot from the edge of the box and beat Howard this time, extending the lead to 2-0 in the 42nd minute.  

“The second goal hurt us,” Hudson added. “All I can say is we kept playing, we kept pushing and we kept trying to force things to happen.”

Diomande earned a brace shortly after the second-half whistle, slotting an easy shot past Howard to make the score 3-0 in the 48th minute.

Despite the second-half injections of Niki Jackson (52’) and Yannick Boli (53’), Colorado only registered a single shot on target the entire match. As the Rapids continued to push for a goal, LAFC weathered the pressure and held onto the 3-0 win.

“I totally understand the frustration, and I’ve found it difficult as well. We’re letting the fans down, and that’s the hardest part. But as tough as it’s been, I do know exactly what we need to do. We’re working 24/7 to change what we need to change.”

LAFC is now even on points with Sporting Kansas City and trailing Western Conference leader FC Dallas by four points. The expansion side with host Houston next Friday. For Colorado, a trip to Minnesota next weekend awaits as part of a two-game road stretch.

The post LAFC clinches playoff berth in 3-0 win over Colorado, Rapids extend losing streak to 7 appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Here is how to watch all Major League Soccer matches live in Week 32 on TV or streaming. You can follow along with our live scores and stats throughout the weekend as well.

Saturday, Oct. 6

Sunday, Oct. 7

Monday, Oct. 8

The post How to watch MLS on TV, live stream Week 32 appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

It’s taken almost the entire season, but there’s a new team atop the Pro Soccer USA Power Rankings as the New York Red Bulls jumped ahead of Atlanta United following a comprehensive 2-0 home win Sunday afternoon.

The LA Galaxy are the biggest gainers this week, moving up four spots after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-0, at home Saturday night, while the New England Revolution fell four spots following a 4-1 drubbing at Toronto FC.

The Major League Soccer Power Rankings are created by averaging the rankings submitted by a committee of Pro Soccer USA’s editor and writers.

Pro Soccer USA’s writers Dylan Butler, Julian Cardillo and Emily Olsen contributed to this report

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 31: New York Red Bulls move to the top appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

In one of Saturday’s early games, the Colorado Rapids traveled west to face the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field.

Looking to end a two-game skid, the Sounders scored first with Raul Ruidiaz’s strike in the 22nd minute. Seattle took the 1-0 lead into halftime, but doubled it in the 52nd minute as Nicolas Lodeiro slotted home a penalty opportunity.

Diaz found a second goal in the 73rd minute, assisted by Lodeiro, who found the final pass while lying on the ground. And Victor Rodriguez scored again in the 80th minute to cap a 4-0 win by the Sounders. Here are three takeaways from the Rapids’ 4-0 loss to Seattle:

Poor form, poor results

Like clockwork, the Colorado Rapids continue to be bad, and historically bad.

For those unfamiliar with this story, Colorado is currently on a six-game losing streak and is in danger of either matching or surpassing the club record losing streak it set earlier in the year (eight consecutive in MLS and nine straight across all competitions). Making matters worse, the Rapids have been outscored 19-1 during their current run.

Rapids are about to become just the 2nd team in the post-shootout @MLS era to have 2 separate 6-game losing streaks in the same season. Only other one with the honor are the legendarily terrible 2001 Tampa Bay Mutiny. #SEAvCHI

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) September 29, 2018

“In the end, overall, we got beat by them,” Rapids coach Anthony Hudson told reporters following the loss to Seattle. “They’re a better team. It’s a bad day. I think myself, the players, we’re all very disappointed. Today really highlights the gap in terms of where we’re at as a team. A team like Seattle… we were completely outclassed in most departments. A disappointing day.”

It’s not the only record Colorado secured Saturday. Issued a yellow card in the 40th minute for unsporting behavior, Rapids midfielder Jack Price moved into a tie for the league lead in yellow cards accumulated (10).

But the verdict is still out as to whether these yellow cards are a tactical necessity or a detriment to a team that’s already struggling.

Colorado’s average of 14 fouls committed per game trails only New England (14.8). But aside from a few teaching moments following two red cards in a 6-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, Hudson doesn’t see a correlation between the team’s style of play and their disciplinary record.

“It’s been quite bizarre really, how many bookings we’ve had,” Hudson told Pro Soccer USA prior to the Seattle match. “But it’s not for me to judge.”

Hot seat

For any other MLS franchise aside from Colorado, six wins in 30 matches isn’t good enough. San Jose fired first year head coach Mikael Stahre for the ‘Quakes abysmal 2018. Orlando City fired Jason Kreis when the team was still above the playoff line. The LA Galaxy and Sigi Schmid parted ways when that team was, likewise, in the playoff hunt. Most recently, the Vancouver Whitecaps fired Carl Robinson with the team just four points out of a playoff position.

With other teams around the league deciding to pull the plug on failed projects that have been arguably more successful than what the Colorado Rapids have achieved this season, most sane fans and media are starting to ask justifiable questions about whether the team should move on from Anthony Hudson.

Whether you agree or not, the writing is on the wall that Hudson’s position should be the hottest seat in MLS right now.

From my timeline on Sept 17th

du Nord Futbol MLS Coaches Hot Seat Power Rankings

5 Anthony Hudson – Colorado
4 Carl Robinson – Vancouver (FIRED TODAY)
3 Adrian Heath – Minnesota
2 Veljko Paunovic – Chicago
1 Mikael Stahre – San Jose (FIRED SEP 17)

— Brucio McGuire (@dunord) September 25, 2018

Unfortunately, the Rapids front office in is a self-created conundrum, with fired head coach Pablo Mastroeni’s contract being paid out through 2019. Hudson is currently on a three-year contract, so it’s hard to see Colorado’s willingness to pay three different coaches in 2019.

Trust the process

For all the poor results and performances, the narrative remains consistent from inside the Rapids’ camp. In public comments, the coaches and players believe in what Hudson is trying to build, but know that it will take time.

“As I said, we believe heavily in what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve and the culture we are trying to have at this club,” Rapids midfielder Giles Barnes said following the Rapids’ latest loss. “At times, there is a building period. I feel we have had a grace period from the fans and the staff to get it right, because we want to do things the correct way as we see going forward for next year. So, it is important that we keep working harder, that we keep focused, and we give all we have got for these last few games.”

Whether or not paying fans can (or should) have the patience for these growing pains, is another matter.  

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SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders reversed their recent fortunes in front of a crowd of 40,042 at CenturyLink Field Saturday, serving up a 4-0 trouncing of the Colorado Rapids. Raul Ruidiaz bagged a brace, while Nicolas Lodeiro had a goal and two assists as the Sounders won in convincing fashion.

“The way this game turned out was not as easy as the score line suggested,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “(Colorado coach Anthony Hudson) has learned the league. He has guys pressing up the field. His guys didn’t quit. There were some nervy moments. At the end of the day I think our quality showed through. It was a good performance to get us back up on the horse.”

Seattle (13-11-5) took the lead in the 22nd minute, when a Tim Howard save fell to Cristian Roldan. Lodeiro took the ball off Roldan at the byline, and cut a cross on the ground back to an open Ruidiaz near the penalty spot and the Peruvian international buried his sixth goal of the season to put Seattle on top.

Schmetzer said he had his assistant coaches keep his player focused during halftime, not content with a one-goal lead.

“We want to make sure that when the game is there to be won that we win them, that we don’t become complacent,” Schmetzer said. “I think during the nine-game winning streak that we’re all very proud of, maybe it was just my voice. I think having some other voices paid off for us tonight.”

The Sounders doubled their advantage in the 51st minute, when Lodeiro was tripped on the outer edge of the penalty area and referee Nima Saghafi pointed to the spot. Lodeiro pushed his kick to the right past a diving Howard to make it 2-0.

The Sounders scored again in the 73rd minute after winning a turnover in the attacking third. Victor Rodriguez found Lodeiro with a through ball. Lodeiro drew several defenders, as well as Howard away from the goal, before rolling the ball back for a Ruidiaz tap-in.

Rodriguez drove in the dagger in the 80th minute, receiving a cutback cross from Kelvin Leerdam and smashed a shot to the far side netting for his second goal of the year.

Saghafi turned to Video Review after issuing Osvaldo Alonso a yellow card in the 33rd minute when Alonso appeared to leave his studs up on a challenge. After reviewing the footage for several moments, however, Saghafi decided against sending the Cuban off and awarded Colorado (6-17-6) a free kick.

The Sounders outshot the Rapids, 18-8, including a 7-1 advantage in shots on target. Seattle controlled 64 percent of the possession over the course of the 90 minutes.

Seattle has now outscored opponents 28-10 dating back to the start of a 12-match unbeaten streak in early July. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei had a slow day at the office, making one save on a Tommy Smith header in the 50th minute to preserve his seventh clean sheet of the season.

“This was a game we needed to win,” Schmetzer said. “We messaged them all week about having a comeback performance from the last two games. I give all credit to those guys in the locker room. That’s an experienced group of players. We had a couple of bad results, but those guys know how to win.”

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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – When the Colorado Rapids travel to CenturyLink Field on Saturday to face the surging Seattle Sounders, it will mark a return home for Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson.

“Seattle is a special place in my family’s life,” Hudson told Pro Soccer USA this week. “I grew up there as a young kid all the way up to my adult life. All my family used to talk about is what a great time they had in Seattle.”

Born in Seattle, Hudson spent his childhood in the Emerald City while his father, Alan Hudson, played for the original Sounders of the North American Soccer League.

“I remember Anthony sitting on my knee a few times whenever we had a get together. We had a really wonderful winning team,” recalled current Sounders ambassador Alan Hinton, who coached the Sounders from 1980-82. “Anthony was always a bright kid. He was always happy running around at practice.”

Alongside NASL poster boys Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, Alan Hudson was one of the star faces of the NASL, long before the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, David Villa and Kaká brought big names to Major League Soccer.

Superb image of Stoke City Manager Bill Asprey welcoming Alan Hudson back to the Victoria Ground back in 1984. #StokeCityFC #SCFC @stokefans @AlanHudson_10
[Credit- Stoke Sentinel] pic.twitter.com/V79nlKqCG9

— Football Back Then (@FootballThen) September 25, 2018

In the 1970s, Hudson was seen as England’s successor to World Cup winner Bobby Charlton. Making his international debut in a 2-0 friendly win over defending World Cup Champions West Germany at Wembley in March of 1975, Hudson’s performance earned praise from the opposition.

“Don’t forget one time, the coach of Germany [Helmut Schoen] said, ‘England have finally got a world-class player,’ and he was talking about Alan Hudson,” Hinton said.

After stints at some of England’s biggest clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal and Stoke City, Hudson moved to the States to join the Sounders, where he became the club’s captain and best player.

“He was wonderful with the young guys and the young American players,” Hinton added.

One of those young Americans was current Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. As a teenager entering the world of professional soccer for the first time, Schmetzer made a point to learn all he could from Hudson and the senior players on those early Sounders teams.

“Alan was one of the guys who helped me in many occasions,” Schmetzer said. “All of those guys and all of those experienced veteran players helped me not just by the words they said to me, but by their actions.”

What Schmetzer remembers most vividly about Hudson was his ability to play a possession-based style of football.

“He rarely lost the ball,” Schmetzer said. “He could keep possession and play; you had to fight like mad to get the ball off of him. Nowadays, possession is key, but back in those days, back in England, it wasn’t a possession game.”

The Guvnor; a man for all seasons. Alan HUDSON walked on water and glided on grass pic.twitter.com/d0NKrF3ckG

— Alan Hudson (Hud) (@AlanHudson_10) September 25, 2018

Unironically, it’s a style that Anthony Hudson has tried to implement this year, his first season managing the Colorado Rapids.

“He’s got a lot of his father in him,” observed Hinton.

In contrast to his father, who earned his reputation as a player, Anthony Hudson has forged his own path behind the touchline. But his first season as an MLS manager has come with its fair share of growing pains. The Rapids have just six wins in 29 matches this season.

Schmetzer is empathetic to the situations his fellow coach encountered during his debut MLS season.

“From afar, I think there’s a learning curve for people outside the U.S.,” he explained. “MLS is a different beast. I had the benefits of learning under [Sigi Schmid] and for seven years being an assistant coach. I was the beneficiary of getting to know the league, the players, and getting a running start.”

At the same time, the Sounders manager harbors a tremendous amount of respect for Hudson and the Rapids organization as his team preps for this weekend’s head-to-head clash.

Aug 25, 2018; Commerce City, CO, USA; Colorado Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson talks with midfielder Johan Blomberg (8) and defender Deklan Wynne (27) in the second half against Real Salt Lake at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

“[Anthony] has got his fair share of challenges, but if he finds the right mix of guys and he uses his tactics and his ability to motivate guys, he can be successful there,” Schmetzer continued. “Colorado has had some success. They won an MLS Cup in 2010. We played them in the Conference Championship a couple years ago. It’s a place where you can win.”

With Seattle getting points in 10 of its past 14 matches, including a 2-0 win over Colorado July 4, accomplishing a win this weekend will be a challenge for Hudson’s Rapids.

While eager to visit his old stomping grounds, the focus has been singular.

“We’re desperate to go there and get a performance,” he said. “We’re not going to go there and be afraid of a giant.”

The post Hudson homecoming: Rapids head coach returns home to face Seattle Sounders appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Here is how to watch all Major League Soccer matches live in Week 31 on TV or streaming. You can follow along with our live scores and stats throughout the weekend as well.

Wednesday, Sept. 26

Saturday, Sept. 29

Sunday, Sept. 30

The post How to watch MLS on TV, live stream Week 31 appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

It’s another week and another new top five in the Pro Soccer USA Power Rankings. While Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls remain in the top two spots, FC Dallas moved up two spots to No. 3, LAFC made a three-spot move to No. 4, while Sporting Kansas City dropped one to No. 5.

On the other end, Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders — last year’s MLS Cup opponents — both dropped four spots after Week 29 losses.

The Major League Soccer Power Rankings are created by averaging the rankings submitted by a committee of Pro Soccer USA’s editor and writers.

Pro Soccer USA’s writers Dylan Butler and Emily Olsen contributed to this report

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 30: LAFC, Philadelphia Union climb, Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC fall appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

The Colorado Rapids paid what might possibly be their last visit to Columbus and MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday night against Crew SC. After waves of pressure early, Columbus broke through for the opening goal as Federico Higuain slotted through a ball to Gyasi Zardes for the easy finish and a 1-0 lead. Colorado responded just under 10 minutes later as Shkëlzen Gashi’s free kick caught Zack Steffen and the Crew defense off guard, leveling the match at 1-1 before the half.

In the second half, a knee to the back of Pedro Santos by Deklan Wynne in the 51st minute resulted in a red card and Colorado playing with 10-men for the remainder of the match. Shortly after Wynne was sent off, Columbus took advantage, with Higuain scoring the go-ahead goal in the 57th minute. Crew SC would hold on to the 2-1 lead, and the win, solidifying their fourth-place standing in the Eastern Conference.

Here are three takeaways from Colorado’s 2-1 loss to Columbus:

Controversy in Columbus

Following some controversial moments in the game, both sides found themselves in disagreement with head referee Allan Chapman.

For Columbus, the fast restart and lack of an audible whistle on the free Kick by Gashi which resulted in Colorado’s goal was a point of contention for Crew SC head coach Greg Berhalter.

“You know, I talked at length to the referee after the game, and his interpretation was that [the Colorado Rapids] have the right to play it quickly, and from my viewpoint, they didn’t play it quickly,” Berhalter said of the play. “We were getting set up, everyone was getting set up, then [the referee] told us to backup, and once that happens, to me, then you have to restart with a whistle.”

Colorado was likewise in disagreement with the decision to send off Wynne in the second half.

“The game completely changes with the sending off [of Deklan Wayne], it completely killed the game,” said Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson. “We are slightly confused, everyone really, the home bench, but the fourth official told us five times it wasn’t a red card. If anything, it was a yellow card at best, that completely changed the game. This is such an important game and the reasoning wasn’t clear to us, wasn’t given to us but the fourth official told me five times it wasn’t a red card and he would’ve never given it.”

Centurion

Despite the loss, Rapids captain and goalkeeper Tim Howard reached a season milestone on Saturday night, surpassing 100 saves on the year. Howard’s season total of 106 saves currently ranks third in MLS behind Evan Bush (116) and David Bingham (107).

“I do not question myself, but a lot of other people do,” Howard told reporters post-match. “It has been good for me, it keeps me pushing forward. I get my head down and I work, I know how to do the right things and hopefully that will keep going.”

100 saves is an admirable achievement, but it’s also perhaps indicative of a leaky defense. Among the top three ‘keepers in saves, only Bush’s team currently sits above the playoff red line, with the Impact holding on desperately to the sixth-seed in the East.

Playing for Pride

The Colorado Rapids were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention last weekend, so the emphasis moving forward is to play for pride, and for jobs.

“We do not want to let ourselves go,” said Rapids midfielder Jack Price. “We have a lot of pride in that dressing room. We feel that we work hard for each other. That’s the minimum, we want to work hard for the club and the fans as that is out job. I am proud of the staff and the players as we dug in deep tonight as it was a tough one for us to take. People could have lost their heads out there with the decision (red card), but we kept our heads. We worked hard for each other, but we are disappointed that we did not come away with anything.”

To be fair, the Rapids looked well positioned to earn a road point before the red card, and snapped their four-game goalless streak heading into the match. Hudson believes his team is still building things the right way.

“I think you saw clearly what we’re all about, what we’re trying to build,” said the Rapids manager. “We know exactly where we’re headed. I have complete, 100 percent firm belief about where we’re taking this team, what we’re doing with it and the areas we need to fix. Tonight, complete injustice with the complete change of the game and as the fourth official told me several times, it was just that.”

The post Colorado Rapids see red again and other takeaways from their 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew SC appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Amid a four-game winless streak in which they’ve been outscored 13-0 by their opponents, the Colorado Rapids are looking to end their current run of form as they prepare for Saturday’s match against Columbus Crew SC. Needless to say, the team is desperate for goals.

“At the moment, we don’t have a striker that’s out and out performing,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson told Pro Soccer USA. “It’s just the final third where we need a little bit more of a cutting edge, a little more quality.”

Following their latest defeat, a 3-0 loss to Atlanta United at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson made it clear that his squad is in need of more attacking players.

Colorado hasn’t been able to find the back of the net since Aug. 14th in a 2-2 draw with the L.A. Galaxy, but Hudson believes his team is “playing the right way.” To his point, while Colorado hasn’t been scoring, the Rapids have been holding a slight edge in possession (52 percent) and nearly even on chances created (39-40) in their recent games, with the exception of a 6-0 thrashing by RSL on Aug. 25th, where Colorado was down to nine men before halftime.

“Even against Atlanta, we created enough chances,” Hudson explained. “It’s an area of our game and our squad that we know we have to address.”

During the summer transfer window, Colorado brought in MLS journeyman Giles Barnes in a move which the front office believed would help make up for the departure of Dominique Badji. Barnes suffered an ankle injury during his Rapids debut, however, and hasn’t been able to make the kind of impact both he and the club were hoping for.

“It’s unfortunate because he injured himself in the first game and was ill last week, so he hasn’t really gotten going yet,” Hudson said of the Jamaican international. “He’s been great for the group and a good player to have in the dressing room. He’s going to be keen now to get a run of games and some performances under his belt.”

It’s been a tough start to his Colorado Rapids career, but Barnes believes in what the team is building and is hopeful that with continued persistence, the goals will come.

“Sometimes it’s a bit of lady luck, sometimes it’s that luck that brings you confidence in front of goal. It takes a shot to go off someone’s elbow or someone’s shin and then the floodgates open,” he said. “I think that’s where we’re at. We’re keeping the ball, we’re distributing well and we’re working hard as a team. We’re headed in the right direction.”

Barnes isn’t the only one that has been hobbled with injury. Forwards Jack McBean (toe), Sam Nicholson (back) and Niki Jackson (ankle) have all dealt with their various injuries over the past few weeks. With each player in and out of the lineup, it’s been detrimental to creating chemistry in the final third.

“If you were to go over all of our best performances, there’s been a certain lineup and with that lineup has come a certain type of performance,” said Hudson. “When we don’t have those players in, our performance changes. I was always very mindful that we were only an injury away from being very different.”

During a season which was meant to reboot the Colorado Rapids into contention, the club’s fan base has become restless. Hudson acknowledges the disappointment in the team’s 2018 results, and took personal responsibility when asked about the criticisms both he and the club has faced.

“To be honest, I think we deserve all of the criticism we get,” he said. “I take full responsibility.”

“I take it on the chin. It’s been tough for the fans, because at the beginning of the season there was a lot of excitement. I feel for the fans, because it’s been frustrating. It’s been a horrible time, very difficult and very challenging. It’s been horrible for me personally, the staff and the players. The players have never stopped fighting, they’ve never stopped working. We all believe in the way we’re trying to play.”

Rapids Injury Report:

Out

Jack McBean – foot/toe

Sam Nicholson – back

Questionable

Niki Jackson – ankle

Edgar Castillo – illness

Probable

Jack Price – groin

Dillon Serna – groin

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